Does Anzer Propolis Have a Protective Effect on Rabbit Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury?

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, Anzer propolis, which can only be obtained from the Eastern Black Sea region in Turkey, is studied for its effect on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Methods: A total of 12 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits with an average weight of 3.0 to 3.5 kg were separated into two blind and randomized groups: the ischemia/reperfusion group (n=6) and the treatment group (n=6). Each rabbit in the treatment group was given a dose of 100 mg/kg of ethanol-dissolved Anzer propolis orally 1 hour before surgery. Blood samples were examined at the 0th hour and postoperatively at the 24th and 48th hours. Tissue samples were taken at the 48th hour during the sacrification.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative Tarlov scoring (P=0.012). There was a difference between the two groups in terms of the blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) at the 48th hour, myeloperoxidase (MPO) at the 24th and 48th hours, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) at the 24th hour, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and total oxidant status (TOS) at the 48th hour (P<0.005). There was also a difference between the two groups in terms of apoptotic index data obtained with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) method in the histopathological examination (P=0.001). In the transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis, while ischemia/reperfusion group generally had axon-myelin separation, axoplasmic dissolution and myelin separation, the propolis treatment group had normal myelin sequencing.

Discussion: In our study, after biochemical, histopathological, ultrastructural and neurological functional examination, it was demonstrated that Anzer propolis has sufficient neuroprotective effect on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits.

Keywords: Animals; Biomarkers; Ischemia; Peroxidase; Propolis; Rabbits; Reperfusion; Solubility.

Fig. 1

Effects of propolis on the damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion of the spinal cords of rabbits. All shapes are stained with HE. (A2) 10x and 200 µm VE (A1) 20x and 100 µm were used as the original magnification. A1: Thick arrows: chromatolysis and loss of Nissl granules in neurons. Thin arrow: formations of diffuse spherical shape. Arrowhead: focal mononuclear cell infiltration areas. A2: Thick arrow: chromatolysis and loss of Nissl granules in multipolar neurons. Thin arrows: spherulite formations.

Note: cells

stained brown show TUNEL-positive cells (arrow). (A), (B) 10x and 200 µm were used as the original magnification.

Fig. 3

Electron microscopy examination of the spinal cord. The image on the left side shows a view of a subject from the I/R group. a: axonal/myelin separation and axoplasmic dissolution. ms: myelin separation. The image on the right side shows regular myelin sequences in the electron microscope view of a subject in the group that received propolis.